Cigarette-machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheetl.

C. C. SATTERWHITE.

CIGARETTE MACHINE.

No. 583,002. Patented May 18,1897.

fue mums PEYER: co, Pnoaumo., WASHINGTON. n. c.

(N-o Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. C. SATTERWHITE. CIGARETTE MACHINE.

No. 583,002. Patented May 18, 1897.

' INVENTOR .flttorney (No Model.) 3 Shgets-Sheet 3.

C. C. SATTERWHITE. CIGARETTE MACHINE.

No. 583,002. Patent-ed May 18, 1897.

WITNESSES l C ICN/VENTOR @HMG m1' "'l ./lttorney TH: Raums PETERS co.. PuoTaLrYno.. wlsulumuu. u c.

UNITED STATES CHARLES C. SATTERVIIITE, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE DIAMOND CIGARETTE MACHINE COMPANY, OF

wn's'r vIReINIA.

CIGARETTE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,002, dated May 18, 1897. Application filed April 2, 1896. Serial No. 585,967.. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES C. SATTER- WHITE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Richmond, in the county of IIenrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigarette-Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it app'ertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying' drawings, and to letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2'is a plan View of a portion of one of the cheesing-chains. Fig. 3 isa detail View, partly in section, showing the relative positions of the two chains at the beginning of the cheesing operation, the links which are shown being detached. Fig. -t is a similar view showing the relative position of the chains at their opposite end portions where the cheesing is completed. Figs. 5 and G are detail perspective views showing the links of the respective chains. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the cutting mechanism with the frame in dotted lines. Fig. 8 is a side View of the same.

This invention has relation to that-class of cigarette-machines wherein the tobacco is shaped into a continuous endwise-moving filler-rod which is subsequently wrapped in a ribbon of paper and nally cut into cigarettes; and it relates more particularly to the mechanism employed for shaping or cheesing the tobacco to form this continuous rod and also to the mechanism by which said rod after it has been wrapped is cut into cigarettes. An object of this invention is to provide cheesing mechanism of this character which can be relied upon to perform its work in a rapid, efficient, and satisfactory manner. It is designed, furthermore, to provide means for this work, all the parts of which move at a uniform speed, whereby the rod during its formation is relieved from the friction of stationary parts or surfaces by or over which it must travel and which might tend to check or impede its movements to such an extent as not only to interfere with its continuity and regularity of formation, but also to endanger or prevent the satisfactory operations of the Wrapping and cutting mechanisms simultaneously taking place upon advancedl portions of the rod.

A further obj ect is to provide cutting mechter described, and pointed out in the appended 'i Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter Z designates the framework of a cigarette-machine.

A designates the feed mechanism, which may be of any suitable character-such, for instance, as shown in my pending application, Serial No. 541,911, filed March 15, 1895-and whichl is arranged to discharge the tobacco in proper condition between a pair of endless chains B B', which constitute the filler-forming mechanism. Said chains are mounted horizontally and longitudinally side by side upon a table Zof the machine upon horizon* tal Wheels or pulleys C C', the former of which have teeth or sprockets c, by means of which the chains are driven, while the latter form idle-carriers. The two driving-pulleys C, which areat the forward end portion of the chain, are j ournaled nearer together than theA two pulleys Cat the rear,whereby the operative portions of said chains instead of being parallel are caused to gradually approach each other ,toward their front ends.

The chain B consists of a series of interpivoted links Leach of which has a projecting portion 2, in the vertical edge of which is formed an open longitudinal horizontal groove 3. The chain B also consists of a series of links 4, which are of somewhat similar character, but which are each formed with a projecting tongue 5,which is designed to loosely engage IOO abutments at the inner ends of the tongues 5 at their upper side are similarly concaved or grooved, as indicated at 7.

The links of both chains are usually connected in the following manner: Every other link is formed with a thickened portion having therein a longitudinal horizontal groove 0 in its outer edge, which receives a reduced portion l0 of the link upon cach side thereof, the pivots or pins l l passin fr through the parts, as indicated. (See Figs. o and G.) The ends of the portions 8 and lO are rounded, as indicated, whereby they may move upon each other, and also to form recesses for the engagement of the sprockets orteeth ofthe driving-wheel C. (See Figs. 5 and G.)

D D are the two idlers, which are adjustably journaled a short distance behind the said wheel C and which are for the purpose of pressing the operative portions of the chains toward each other. By a proper adjustment of these idlers the pressure of the chain upon the filler-rod can be accurately controlled.

E E are two idler-rollers which are placed transversely over the belts for the purpose of holding the rod down whilcitis being formed.

Both chains are designed to be driven at a perfectly uniform rate of speed by means of suitable gear connections \V with the main driving-shaft X. The chains are at such distance apart at their rear portions that the tongues 5 at first just engage the grooves 3 of the opposing links, (see Fig. 3,) the two grooved edges 6 and 7 being therefore considerably separated from each other (usually about one inch) and form between them a trough to receive the tobacco as it falls from the feeding mechanism, the bottom of the trough being formed by the tongues 5,which in this position fit cach other so closely as to form a practically continuous surface. This trough or conduit, however, is constantly narrowing as the tongues 5 come into deeper engagement with each other, until at the front end (see Fig. 4) the two groovcd edges (J and 7 come together around the rod and give it its cylindrical form. The links now begin to pass around the pulleys, opening away from the rod, which passes to the wrapping mechanism.

In Fig. l of the drawings I have shown the improvements applied to a machine of the general character described and claimed in my application above referred to, the letter Y indicating a short trough or guide through which the rod passes to the pair of grooved rolls G, where it enters upon the paper fed from the roll II.

I is the folding or wrapping mechanism, and J is the pasting device.

After the enveloped rod leaves the wrapping mechanism it passes to the improved cutting mechanism now to be described, as follows:

. as indicated at l'.

K designates a rotary disk carried by a shaft K in a plane transverse to the movel ment of the rod. Said disk has journaled therein at equal distances froln each other and near its periphery a series (usually six) of short shafts IU, which are parallel to and concentric with the shaft K. Secured to each of the said shafts upon the front face of the disk is a cutter-holder L, which projects beyond the periphery and is formed with a shoulder which forms a seat fora thin knife M. Said knife has an oblique cutting edge, its front end or corner being nearer the axis of the disk than the rear end or corner by a distance about eqn al to the diameter of a cigarette, say three-eighths of an inch. Behind each of the shafts K2that is, between it and the shaft K-a cylindrical boss or lug N is secured to the face of the disk K, and seated upon this lug or boss is a tightly-coiled spring O, whose inner end portion is extended in one direction and has a bearing upon a pin or stud o of the disk, while its opposite end portion is extended to and engaged with the heel portion of the adjacent cutter-holder Il, On cach shaft K2 is also a collar l), having a pin or projection P, which is a little behind the center of said shaft.

It is a stationary cam which is secured to the bed-plate of the machine and which is designed to be successively engaged by each of the pins or projections p during each revolut-ion of the disk K a short time before the cut is made. In the drawings I have shown this cam as having a curved edge o', which at its lower portion is substantially concentric with the axis of K and in such relation thereto that the pins or projections 7.: come easily into engagement therewith in rotation. The said edge, however, gradually increases its ecccntricity to the axis of shaft K, which it more nearly approaches, whereby as the said pin or projection moves along the same the collar will be turned backwardl y, thereby drawing down the knife-holder against a pin or stop p of the disk and putting the spring O under tension-that is to say, said spring is gradually being wound during the engagement of the pin or projection with said cam edge. .Inst as the knife comes to the rod said pin or projection suddenly escapes the point of the cam at R and the spring at once unwinds, suddenly throwing the knife and the knife-holder upward 1y and forwardly through the rod. It will be seen, therefore, thatI while the knife is being rotated by the disk it is at this time suddenly thrown upwardly and forwardly with a speed which exceeds that of its rotation. In making thc eut the knife works against the face of a guide S, through the opening of which the rod is passing, and which holds the rod to the action of the knife.

The disk K may be driven by means of a connection with the main drivingshaft X. In the present instance I have shown this connection as consisting of a transverse shaft T, driven by bevel-gear T from the shaft X and geared to a parallel shaft T2 above the bed-plate. The shaft K is connected by ICO IIO

scribed, as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I would also state that while the present improvements have been more especially designed for use upon a machine of the character described and claimed in my applicati-on above referred to, they may nevertheless be adapted to other machines.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cigarette-machine, filler-rod-forming mechanism, comprising essentially a pair of endless chains Whose operative portions gradually approach each other from their rear to their forward end portions, the links comprising one chain having tongues and the links of the other chain having grooves arranged to be engaged by said tongues, said tongues forming the bottom of the conduit constituted by the chains, substantially as specified.

2. In a iiller-rod-forming mechanism for cigarette-machines, a pair of endless chains, the links of one of said chains having grooves therein, and the links of the other chain having Aprojecting portions adapted to engage the said grooves, and to form the bottom of the conduit formed by the operative portions of the said chains, all of said links having means for operating upon the tobacco as it rests upon the said projections together with means for carrying and driving said chains, substantially as specified.

3. In a cigarette-machine, iiller-rod-forming mechanism, comprising a pair of endless chains supported horizontally, side by side,

with their operative portions gradually approaching toward their front ends, and consisting each of a series of pivoted links, the links of one chain having grooved portions, while the links of the other chain have tongues to engage said grooves, means for pressing the operative portions of said chains toward each other, and pressing devices above the chains, together with means for supporting and actuating said chains, substantially as specified.

41 In a cigarette-machine, apair of endless chains arranged side by side and forming between them a filler-rod carrying and shaping conduit of gradually-decreasing Width, the bottom of said conduit being formed by one of said chains, substantially as specified.

5. In a cigarette-machine, the combination of two endless chains placed side by side and consisting each of a series of pivoted links, the links of one chain having projecting portions formed with horizontal grooves in their vertical edges, while the links of the other chain have tongues arranged to engage with said grooves, thelinks of both chains also having opposing grooves or conca-ved faces, substantially as specified.

6. In a cigarette-machine, a pair of endless chains, constructed and supported to form between them a filler-rod carrying and forming conduit of gradually-decreasing width, and consisting each of a series of links, having intertted or rounded pivoted portions, the links of one chain also having projecting portions formed with a horizontal groove at their vertical edges, and the links of the other chain having projecting tongues adapted to engage said grooves, and to form the bottom of said conduit, together With means for actuatingsaid chains at a uniform speed, substantially as specified.

7. In a cigarette-machine, the combination with feeding mechanism, of a pair of endless chains arranged side by side, and forming between them a filler-rod supporting and forming conduit of gradually-decreasin g width and into the Widest end portion of which the feeding mechanism is arranged to discharge, one of said chains having grooved links, and the other having projections arranged to engage said grooves and to form the bottom of said conduit, together with Wrapping, pasting and folding mechanisms through which the rod passes after leaving the said chains, substantially as specified.

8. In a cigarette-machine, cutting mechanism comprising a rotary carrier, a series of spring-actuated cutters pivoted thereto and capable of independent movement inv the plane of rotation, and means for putting the actuatin g-springs under tension at the proper time, and for suddenly releasing same, substantially as specified.

9. In a cigarette-machine, cutting mechanism comprising a rotary carrier mounted to rotate in a plane transverse to the feed of the rod, a series of cutters carried thereby and free to move independently in the plane of their rotation, actuating-springs attached to said cutters and norm ally inactive, and means for putting said springs under tension and for releasing the same at the proper time, substantially as specified.

IO. In a cigarette-machine, cutting mechanism, comprising a rotary carrier mounted to rotate in a plane transverse to the feed of the cigarette-rod, a series of equally-distant, peripherally-located -cutter-holders pivoted to said carrier, the knives carried by said holders, the normally-inactive springs attached to said holders, and means for putting said springs successively under tension and for successively releasing the same at the proper time, substantially as specified.

ll. In a cigarette-machine, the cutting IOO IIO

rier, of a cutter pivoted thereto, and capable of an independent movement in the plane of 15 rotation, together with means whereby said cutter is momentarily advanced ata speed in excess of the rotary movement of the carrier, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 2o in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES C. SA'l"l`ERWlIl'lE.

Witnesses:

WM. R. (ELEMENTS, FRANK L. KUHL. 

